Evaluation of advanced oxidation processes for water and wastewater treatment - A critical review

David B Miklos; Christian Remy; Martin Jekel; Karl G Linden; Jörg E Drewes; Uwe Hübner

doi:10.1016/j.watres.2018.03.042

Evaluation of advanced oxidation processes for water and wastewater treatment - A critical review

Water Res. 2018 Aug 1:139:118-131. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2018.03.042. Epub 2018 Mar 22.

Authors

David B Miklos¹, Christian Remy², Martin Jekel³, Karl G Linden⁴, Jörg E Drewes⁵, Uwe Hübner⁶

Affiliations

¹ Chair of Urban Water Systems Engineering, Technical University of Munich, Am Coulombwall 3, D-85748 Garching, Germany. Electronic address: d.miklos@tum.de.
² Kompetenzzentrum Wasser Berlin gGmbH, Cicerostrasse 24, D-10709 Berlin, Germany. Electronic address: Christian.Remy@kompetenz-wasser.de.
³ Technische Universität Berlin, Chair of Water Quality Control, KF4, Str. des 17. Juni 135, D-10623, Berlin, Germany. Electronic address: martin.jekel@tu-berlin.de.
⁴ Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, UCB 607, Boulder, CO 80303, USA. Electronic address: karl.linden@colorado.edu.
⁵ Chair of Urban Water Systems Engineering, Technical University of Munich, Am Coulombwall 3, D-85748 Garching, Germany. Electronic address: jdrewes@tum.de.
⁶ Chair of Urban Water Systems Engineering, Technical University of Munich, Am Coulombwall 3, D-85748 Garching, Germany. Electronic address: u.huebner@tum.de.

PMID: 29631187
DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2018.03.042

Abstract

This study provides an overview of established processes as well as recent progress in emerging technologies for advanced oxidation processes (AOPs). In addition to a discussion of major reaction mechanisms and formation of by-products, data on energy efficiency were collected in an extensive analysis of studies reported in the peer-reviewed literature enabling a critical comparison of various established and emerging AOPs based on electrical energy per order (E_EO) values. Despite strong variations within reviewed E_EO values, significant differences could be observed between three groups of AOPs: (1) O₃ (often considered as AOP-like process), O₃/H₂O₂, O₃/UV, UV/H₂O₂, UV/persulfate, UV/chlorine, and electron beam represent median E_EO values of <1 kWh/m³, while median energy consumption by (2) photo-Fenton, plasma, and electrolytic AOPs were significantly higher (E_EO values in the range of 1-100 kWh/m³). (3) UV-based photocatalysis, ultrasound, and microwave-based AOPs are characterized by median values of >100 kWh/m³ and were therefore considered as not (yet) energy efficient AOPs. Specific evaluation of 147 data points for the UV/H₂O₂ process revealed strong effects of operational conditions on reported E_EO values. Besides water type and quality, a major influence was observed for process capacity (lab-vs. pilot-vs. full-scale applications) and, in case of UV-based processes, of the lamp type. However, due to the contribution of other factors, correlation of E_EO values with specific water quality parameters such as UV absorbance and dissolved organic carbon were not substantial. Also, correlations between E_EO and compound reactivity with OH-radicals were not significant (photolytically active compounds were not considered). Based on these findings, recommendations regarding the use of the E_EO concept, including the upscaling of laboratory results, were derived.

Keywords: Advanced oxidation process; Electrical energy per order (E(EO)); OH-Radical exposure; Oxidation by-products; Trace organic chemicals.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Oxidation-Reduction
Waste Disposal, Fluid / methods*
Wastewater / chemistry
Water Pollutants, Chemical / chemistry*
Water Purification / methods*

Substances

Waste Water
Water Pollutants, Chemical